1st Test: Ashwin, Jadeja duo destroy Sri Lanka to give India a crucial lead in the Test series

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Ravindra Jadeja celebrate with India skipper Virat Kohli after fall of a wicket today. Image Source: twitter

Internet Desk: India’s ace spin duo Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shared three wickets each in the second innings as India beat hosts Sri Lanka by 304 runs in the first Test to take a crucial 1-0 lead in the Three match Test rubber at Galle International Stadium today. It was India’s highest ever marginal victory in the history of Test cricket at the overseas.

Earlier after completing his 17th Test ton India skipper Virat Kohli (103*) declared their innings and gave the hosts a huge target of 550 runs to win the Test. India’s  pace spearhead Mohammed Shami drew the first blood as he bowled the Lankan opener Upul Tharanga (10) in the 3rd over of the innings. After that Kusal Mendis (36) tried to hold the innings with Dimunth Karunaratne but Jadeja had the last laugh as Mendis edged his delivery straight in the hands of Wriddhiman Saha.

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella (67) played a handy knock with his partner  Karunaratne as they shared a 101 runs stand for the side. When the duo were trying to consolidate the innings against a strong Indian bowling line-up, Ravichandran Ashwin gave the hosts a crucial break through again by taking the wicket of Dickwella. Karunaratne too (97) didn’t last long as Ashwin denied him to reach to his ton. India’s star opener Shikhar Dhawan was adjudged Man of the match for playing a brilliant knock of 190 runs in the first innings.